Showing papers by "Louisiana State University published in 1991"
TL;DR: Data suggest that endothelium-derived NO may be an important endogenous modulator of leukocyte adherence and that impairment of NO production results in a pattern ofLeukocyte adhesion and emigration that is characteristic of acute inflammation.
Abstract: The objective of this study was to determine whether endogenous nitric oxide (NO) inhibits leukocyte adhesion to vascular endothelium. This was accomplished by superfusing a cat mesenteric preparation with inhibitors of NO production, NG-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA) or NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), and observing single (30-microns diameter) venules by intravital video microscopy. Thirty minutes into the superfusion period the number of adherent and emigrated leukocytes, the erythrocyte velocity, and the venular diameter were measured; venular blood flow and shear rate were calculated from the measured parameters. The contribution of the leukocyte adhesion glycoprotein CD11/CD18 was determined using the CD18-specific monoclonal antibody IB4. Both inhibitors of NO production increased leukocyte adherence more than 15-fold. Leukocyte emigration was also enhanced, whereas venular shear rate was reduced by nearly half. Antibody IB4 abolished the leukocyte adhesion induced by L-NMMA and L-NAME. Incubation of isolated cat neutrophils with L-NMMA, but not L-NAME, resulted in direct upregulation of CD11/CD18 as assessed by flow cytometry. Decrements in venular shear rate induced by partial occlusion of the superior mesenteric artery in untreated animals revealed that only a minor component of L-NAME-induced leukocyte adhesion was shear rate-dependent. The L-NAME-induced adhesion was inhibited by L-arginine but not D-arginine. These data suggest that endothelium-derived NO may be an important endogenous modulator of leukocyte adherence and that impairment of NO production results in a pattern of leukocyte adhesion and emigration that is characteristic of acute inflammation.
3,073 citations
TL;DR: It is demonstrated that a simple adjustment to the cross-sectional techniques produces appropriate rejection rates when the null is true and equally powerful tests when it is false.
1,743 citations
TL;DR: The broad phylogenetic spectrum of examples discussed herein illustrate that while there are numerous differences among the phyla with respect to both pro- and anti-oxidant mechanisms to establish a vigorous basis of inquiry, enough striking similarities exist to suggest the use of aquatic organisms as alternative models to mammals in various areas of oxyradical research, e.g. aging and cancer.
1,304 citations
TL;DR: It is demonstrated that failure to recognize the molecular duplication can lead to misinterpretation of marker genotypes for affected individuals, identification of false recombinants, and incorrect localization of the disease locus.
1,293 citations
TL;DR: Two research limitations pertaining to environmental munificence-organization relationships are examined and measurement suggestions, along with other research implications, are discussed.
Abstract: Two research limitations pertaining to environmental munificence-organization relationships are examined: (a) overabstraction, which exists when environment is defined too broadly, resulting in inappropriate aggregation of disparate environmental units and (b) conceptual ambiguity, which exists when researchers use different labels to describe similar munificence constructs and similar labels to describe different constructs. These limitations are clarified, and measurement suggestions, along with other research implications, are discussed.
583 citations
TL;DR: That serum lipid and lipoprotein levels continue to track from childhood into young adulthood points to the necessity of measurement early in life and, where indicated, the introduction of preventive and interventional programs aimed at developing healthy lifestyles.
Abstract: Serum lipids (total cholesterol and triglycerides) and lipoprotein cholesterol fractions (low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) cholesterol, and high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol) have been measured approximately every 3 years on children and young adults since 1973-1974 in Bogalusa, Louisiana, a community of approximately 22,000 individuals, one-third of whom are black and two-thirds of whom are white. A total of 1,586 children were examined both at baseline (1973-1974) and at the most recent survey (1984-1986), providing 12 years of follow-up. The decreases in levels noted during puberty for total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol, primarily for boys, were followed by a rise until age 26 years. HDL cholesterol levels, particularly for white boys, continued to drop after age 14 years, yielding increasingly high LDL cholesterol/HDL cholesterol ratios. Tracking, as measured by both correlation coefficients and persistence at extreme quartiles, was evident for all of the lipids and lipoproteins. The 12-year correlation coefficients were greatest for LDL cholesterol and no trend in the magnitude of the correlation coefficients with age was noted. Tracking for HDL cholesterol was better after age 9 years, particularly for white males. Approximately 50% of those children who had total cholesterol levels or LDL cholesterol levels above the 75th percentile at baseline remained elevated 12 years later. For HDL cholesterol, a trend with age was noted for white boys: 42% of those aged 9-14 years in the lower most quartile persisted in this rank 12 years later. The best predictor of follow-up lipid or lipoprotein level was baseline level. The next best predictor was increase in weight as defined by weight/height, an index of obesity. That serum lipid and lipoprotein levels continue to track from childhood into young adulthood points to the necessity of measurement early in life and, where indicated, the introduction of preventive and interventional programs aimed at developing healthy lifestyles.
576 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors make a call for cross-national validation of measures used in international research, but they have gone mostly unanswered, despite numerous calls have been made for the crossnational validation.
Abstract: Though numerous calls have been made for the cross-national validation of measures used in international research, they have gone mostly unanswered. Recent research suggests that one construct and ...
564 citations
Journal Article•
TL;DR: The Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Medicine (REALM) was developed as a quick screening tool to assist physicians in identifying patients with limited reading skills and in estimating patient reading levels.
Abstract: Health education materials, medical instructions, consent forms, and self-report questionnaires are often given to patients with little regard for their ability to read them. Reading ability is rarely tested in medical settings. The Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Medicine (REALM) was developed as a quick screening tool to assist physicians in identifying patients with limited reading skills and in estimating patient reading levels. This information can be used to tailor materials and instructions to patients' abilities. The REALM and the reading sections of the Peabody Individual Achievement Test-Revised and the Slosson Oral Reading Test were used to test reading ability in 207 adults in six public and private primary care clinics. REALM scores correlated highly with those of the standardized reading tests. The REALM, which takes three to five minutes to administer and score, appears to be a practical instrument to estimate patient literacy in primary care, patient education, and medical research.
546 citations
TL;DR: A survey of studies on gasoline demand can be found in this article, where the authors find a fair degree of agreement concerning average short-run and even long-run income and price elasticities.
543 citations
TL;DR: The maturational reorganization of the cytoarchitecture and the cellular mechanisms by which goblet cells secrete their products are discussed, including elucidation of the baseline secretory pathway, which is dependent on the cytoskeleton for granule movement, and the accelerated secretory route, which requires an extracellular signal to occur.
Abstract: Goblet cells reside throughout the length of the small and large intestine and are responsible for the production and maintenance of the protective mucus blanket by synthesizing and secreting high-molecular-weight glycoproteins known as mucins. To elucidate the role of goblet cells in the biology of the intestinal tract, an overview of the physiological implications of the mucus gel is presented, including a concise review of the products secreted by the cell. Because of the unique nature of this highly polarized exocrine cell, the maturational reorganization of the cytoarchitecture and the cellular mechanisms by which goblet cells secrete their products are discussed. This includes elucidation of the baseline secretory pathway, which is dependent on the cytoskeleton for granule movement, and the accelerated secretory pathway, which is independent of the cytoskeleton but requires an extracellular signal to occur. Finally, the involvement of goblet cell mucins in the pathophysiology of intestinal neoplasia and ulcerative colitis are presented.
462 citations
TL;DR: A new hypercube-type structure, the folded hypercube (FHC), which is basically a standard hypercube with some extra links established between its nodes, is proposed and analyzed and it is shown that this structure offers substantial improvement over existing hyper cube-type networks in terms of the above-mentioned network parameters.
Abstract: A new hypercube-type structure, the folded hypercube (FHC), which is basically a standard hypercube with some extra links established between its nodes, is proposed and analyzed. The hardware overhead is almost 1/n, n being the dimensionality of the hypercube, which is negligible for large n. For this new design, optimal routing algorithms are developed and proven to be remarkably more efficient than those of the conventional n-cube. For one-to-one communication, each node can reach any other node in the network in at most (n/2) hops (each hop corresponds to the traversal of a single link), as opposed to n hops in the standard hypercube. One-to-all communication (broadcasting) can also be performed in only (n/2) steps, yielding a 50% improvement in broadcasting time over that of the standard hypercube. All routing algorithms are simple and easy to implement. Correctness proofs for the algorithms are given. For the proposed architecture, communication parameters such as average distance, message traffic density, and communication time delay are derived. In addition, some fault tolerance capabilities of this architecture are quantified and compared to those of the standard cube. It is shown that this structure offers substantial improvement over existing hypercube-type networks in terms of the above-mentioned network parameters. >
TL;DR: A protein kinase that requires calcium but not calmodulin or phospholipids for activity has been purified from soybean and is established as a prototype for a new family of calcium-regulated protein kinases.
Abstract: Calcium can function as a second messenger through stimulation of calcium-dependent protein kinases. A protein kinase that requires calcium but not calmodulin or phospholipids for activity has been purified from soybean. The kinase itself binds calcium with high affinity. A complementary DNA clone for this kinase has been identified; it encodes a protein with a predicted molecular mass of 57,175 daltons. This protein contains a catalytic domain similar to that of calmodulin-dependent kinases and a calmodulin-like region with four calcium binding domains (EF hands). The predicted structure of this kinase explains its direct regulation via calcium binding and establishes it as a prototype for a new family of calcium-regulated protein kinases.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors characterize participants in three related, but different environmental protection activities: donating items for reuse, recycling newspapers, and walking in a walk-in-the-wild environment.
Abstract: This study characterizes participants in three related, but different environmental protection activities. The activities studied here are donating items for reuse, recycling newspapers, and walkin...
TL;DR: The ccpA gene was found to be allelic to alsA, previously identified as a regulator of acetoin biosynthesis, and may be involved in catabolite regulation of other systems as well.
Abstract: Expression of the alpha-amylase gene of Bacillus subtilis is controlled at the transcriptional level, and responds to the growth state of the cell as well as the availability of rapidly metabolizable carbon sources. Glucose-mediated repression has previously been shown to involve a site near the transcriptional start-point of the amyE gene. In this study, a transposon insertion mutation was characterized which resulted in loss of glucose repression of amyE gene expression. The gene affected by this mutation, which was localized near 263 degrees on the B. subtilis chromosomal map, was isolated and its DNA sequence was determined. This gene, designated ccpA, exhibited striking homology to repressor genes of the lac and gal repressor family. The ccpA gene was found to be allelic to alsA, previously identified as a regulator of acetoin biosynthesis, and may be involved in catabolite regulation of other systems as well.
TL;DR: The authors' data show that the Onverwacht and Fig Tree felsic units have distinctly different ages and therefore do not represent a single, tectonically repeated unit as proposed by others, and indicate the existence of still older units, possibly stratigraphically lower and older portions of the greenstone sequence itself, older granitoid intrusive rocks, or bodies of older, unrelated crustal material.
TL;DR: The atmospheric neutrino flux is measured using a 3.4-kt yr exposure of the IMB-3 detector and it is found that nonshowering events comprise 40% of the total and the fraction expected is (51{plus minus}5(syst)%).
Abstract: The atmospheric neutrino flux is measured using a 3.4-kt yr exposure of the IMB-3 detector. Single-ring events are classified as showering or nonshowering using the geometry of the \ifmmode \check{C}\else \v{C}\fi{}erenkov pattern. A simulation of neutrino interactions and three models of atmospheric neutrino production are used to predict the composition of the sample. Showering-nonshowering character is strongly correlated with the flavor of the neutrino parent. In the lepton momentum range p1500 MeV/c, we find that nonshowering events comprise [41\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}3\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}2syst]% of the total. The fraction expected is [51\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}5(syst)]%.
TL;DR: The construct validity of the Behavior Intervention Rating Scale (BIRS) was investigated to develop an instrument to measure teachers' perceptions of treatment acceptability and percieved effectiveness of classroom interventions as mentioned in this paper.
TL;DR: In this article, applied nonparametric statistics (2nd ed.) are used to estimate the probability of a node in a graph with respect to its neighbors in a given set.
Abstract: (1991). Applied Nonparametric Statistics (2nd ed.) Technometrics: Vol. 33, No. 3, pp. 364-365.
TL;DR: This work has confirmed the hypothesis that the majority of Alu family members are amplified copies of a "master" gene(s), and appears to be amplifying at a rate much slower than that seen earlier in primate evolution.
TL;DR: Quantitative descriptors of corneal topography determined by computerized algorithm and designed to augment the information derived from topographic maps were evaluated in a clinical study and suggest thatCorneal symmetry is a lesser but still important determinant of the optical performance of the anterior cornean surface.
Abstract: • Quantitative descriptors of corneal topography determined by computerized algorithm and designed to augment the information derived from topographic maps were evaluated in a clinical study. The surface regularity index, a measure of central corneal optical quality, was highly correlated with best spectacle-corrected visual acuity ( p = 0.80, P p = 0.62, P
TL;DR: Metabolism of redox cycling xenobiotics in aquatic organisms is very similar to that of mammals suggesting similarities in the health consequences of exposure to such compounds, albeit there are marked quantitative differences among the various species reported.
TL;DR: Oligonucleotide primers complementary to the unique DNA sequences flanking a recently inserted human-specific Alu family member were synthesized with and without inosine at the 3'-ultimate nucleotide position to increase the reliability and consistency of the PCR amplification in other species.
Abstract: The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is a powerful tool for the enzymatic amplification of individual DNA sequences from unique oligonucleotide primers and a small amount of target DNA (1). In order for a successful PCR to occur each of the oligonucleotide primers must hybridize to sequences flanking the gene of interest. Mismatched nucleotides at the 3'-ultimate and 3'-penultimate positions have previously been shown to be detrimental to the amplification process (2). This is primarily due to a need for a perfect 3' base-pair to allow enzymatic synthesis rather than any thermodynamic effect on duplex formation. Mismatch of the oligonucleotide primers is particularly important in evolutionary PCR since the oligonucleotide primer pair is usually based upon nucleotide sequence information from one organism which may have diverged from other species of interest many millions of years ago. Previously, deoxyinosine has been successfully substituted into degenerate positions of PCR primers for ambiguous nucleotide positions (3). We have chosen to substitute deoxyinosine at the 3'-ultimate nucleotide position in order to determine whether or not this substitution is compatible with DNA synthesis using Taq DNA polymerase. This facilitates PCR at neutral loci in different primate species where the 3' terminal nucleotide may have mutated. Oligonucleotide primers complementary to the unique DNA sequences flanking a recently inserted human-specific (HS) Alu family member were synthesized with and without inosine at the 3'-ultimate nucleotide position. The sequence of the primer pair, optimal annealing temperature (55°C), and source DNA cell lines were previously reported (4). The primers were used to amplify orthologous loci within human, chimpanzee, gorilla, orangutan, green monkey (old world monkey), and owl monkey (new world monkey) genomes. Amplification results in the production of a 450 bp band if an Alu family member is present at a particular locus (Figure 1, human DNA amplified with and without primers containing inosine). A 150 bp band (Figure 1, all non-human primate DNAs except green,monkey amplified using non-inosine primers) is amplified if no Alu family member is present at a particular locus, or both bands are amplified if the locus is heterozygous for the Alu insertion (none shown). Figure 1 shows the amplification of the HS C4N4 Alu insertion locus using primers with and without inosine. These data show that the inclusion of inosine at the 3' position resulted in the amplification of a 150 bp product (no Alu family member present) from green monkey DNA, which was not amplified using otherwise identical primers which did not terminate with inosine. The lack of amplification of green monkey DNA using primers without inosine is probably the result of a mutation at the terminal nucleotide position within one of the oligonucleotide primers. This is not surprising since the human/old world monkey divergence is thought to have occurred 25 million years ago. In several other cases we have found the incorporation of a 3' inosine in the PCR primers to increase the reliability and consistency of the PCR amplification in other species. These data suggest that the inclusion of inosine at the 3'-terminal nucleotide position is advisable for evolutionary PCR.
TL;DR: Li et al. as discussed by the authors found that self-ratings of performance are more lenient than are supervisory ratings of performance in the Republic of China (Taiwan) compared to their U.S. counterparts.
Abstract: Using a sample of 982 leader-subordinate dyads drawn from nine different organizations in the Republic of China (i.e., Taiwan), self-ratings of performance were compared with supervisory ratings of subordinate performance. Results indicated that Chinese employees rated their job performance less favorably than did their supervisors (i.e., they exhibited a modesty bias). This modesty bias occurred relatively uniformly across gender, various educational levels, and age groups. These results are contrary to the typically reported U.S. finding that self-ratings of performance are more lenient than are supervisory ratings. A further comparison of the means of supervisory and self-ratings between this study and previous U.S. research revealed that the modesty bias appeared to be produced by the lower self-ratings made by Chinese workers as compared to their U.S. counterparts. The findings suggest that culture plays a critical role in shaping workers' perceptions of their own work performance. Results of this study are discussed in terms of their implications for future research and practice in international human resource management.
TL;DR: This paper reviewed the literature on the relationship between job satisfaction and life satisfaction on its theoretical, empirical, and methodological bases and suggested improvements by focusing attention on construct validity and the use of longitudinal designs.
Abstract: We review the literature on the relationship between job satisfaction and life satisfaction on its theoretical, empirical, and methodological bases Our review indicates that recent theoretical work is too often characterized by repeatedly confirming the spillover hypothesis to the exclusion of advancing further theoretical developments The greater sophistication of statistical analyses is cited as one of the few recent methodological advances Our review focuses on theoretical and methodological developments needed in future research The areas of multiple links between job and life satisfactions, life stages, and satisfaction as a disposition are described as potential areas for theoretical advances Methodologically, we suggest improvements by focusing attention on construct validity and the use of longitudinal designs
TL;DR: In this article, a radiochemical Ga-Ge experiment using 30 tons of gallium to determine the primary flux of neutrinos from the Sun has begun operation at the Baksan Neutrino Observatory in the U.S.R.
Abstract: A radiochemical {sup 71}Ga-{sup 71}Ge experiment using 30 tons of gallium to determine the primary flux of neutrinos from the Sun has begun operation at the Baksan Neutrino Observatory in the U.S.S.R. Assuming that the extraction efficiency for {sup 71}Ge atoms produced by solar neutrinos is the same as from natural Ge carrier, we observed the capture rate to be 20{sub {minus}20}{sup +15}(stat){plus minus}32(syst) solar neutrino units (SNU), resulting in a limit of less than 79 SNU (90% C.L.). This is to be compared with 132 SNU predicted by the standard solar model.
TL;DR: In this paper, the space (S ∗ of Hida distributions is characterized in terms of analytic properties of the Fourier transformation of its elements, and the space is characterized by the Fouriers transformation of the elements.
TL;DR: The surgical excision of submacular scar in end-stage age-related macular degeneration and transplantation of autologous and homologous retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells and Bruch's membrane is described.
Abstract: We describe the surgical excision of submacular scar in end-stage age-related macular degeneration and transplantation of autologous and homologous retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells. The technique involves the preparation of a large retinal flap encompassing the macula and the arcades, removal of the submacular scar, and replacement of the RPE cells, using either an autologous pedicle graft or homologous RPE cells and Bruch's membrane. Fourteen months following the procedure, visual acuity in a patient with a pedicle graft had improved from counts fingers to 20/400 and the patient fixated over the transplanted RPE cells. After 10 months, a homologous graft in a second patient had become encapsulated with a fine subretinal membrane without neovascular tissue; visual acuity had not improved. No intraoperative or postoperative complications resulting from the surgery occurred in either patient.
TL;DR: The authors developed a questionnaire based on the National Association for the Education of Young Children guidelines for developmentally appropriate practice in early childhood education and used this questionnaire for obtaining information regarding kindergarten teachers' beliefs and practices.
Abstract: The major objectives of this study were to develop a questionnaire based on the National Association for the Education of Young Children guidelines [1986] for developmentally appropriate practice in early childhood education and to use this questionnaire for obtaining information regarding kindergarten teachers’ beliefs and practices. The Teacher Questionnaire containing two subscales, the Teachers’ Beliefs Scale and the Instructional Activities Scale, was constructed and administered to 113 kindergarten teachers from four Southern states. In addition to encouraging psychometric properties, positive correlations were found between develomentally appropriate beliefs and activities [r = .63, p = .000] as well as between developmentally inappropriate beliefs and activities [r = .71, p = .000]. The teachers with higher ratings on developmentally appropriate beliefs felt more in control of planning and implementation of instruction than did the teachers with lower ratings. The Teacher Questionnaire shows promi...
TL;DR: The influence of sediment redox potential and pH on As and Se speciation and solubility was studied in this article under controlled redox (500, 200, 0, and −200 mV) and pH (5, natural, and 7.5) conditions.
Abstract: The influence of sediment redox potential and pH on As and Se speciation and solubility was studied. Hyco Reservoir (North Carolina) sediments were equilibrated under controlled redox (500, 200, 0, and −200 mV) and pH (5, natural, and 7.5) conditions. Redox potential and pH affected both speciation and solubility of As and Se. Under oxidized conditions As solubility was low and 87% of the As in solution was present as As(V). Upon reduction, As(III) became the major As species in solution, and As solubility increased. Total As in solution increased approximately 25 times upon reduction to −200 mV. No organic arsenicals were detected. In contrast to As, Se solubility reached a maximum under highly oxidized (500 mV) conditions and decreased significantly upon reduction. Selenium(VI) was the predominant dissolved Se species present at 500 mV. At 200 and 0 mV, Se(IV) became the most stable oxidation state of Se. Under strongly reduced conditions (−200 mV) oxidized Se species were no longer detectable and Se solubility was controlled by the formation of elemental Se and/or metal selenides. Biomethylation of Se was important under oxidized and moderately reduced conditions (500, 200, and 0 mV). More alkaline conditions (pH 7.5) resulted in both greater As and Se concentrations in solution. Dissolved As and Se increased up to 10 and 6 times, respectively, as compared to the more acidic equilibrations.